Vehicle-gear



(No Model.)

H. G. SWAN.

v VEHICLE GEAR. No. 388,380. Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. SWAN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

VEHICLE-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,380, dated August21, 1888;

Application filed April 11, 1888. Serial No. 270,289. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that 1', HENRY C. SWAN, of Oshkosh, in the county ofWinnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-Gears; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to an improvement in vehiclegears, and moreparticularly to a type in which fifth-wheels or circle-plates areemployed.

One object of my present invention is to so construct vehicle gears thatthe use of a loose king-bolt may be dispensed with and strength as wellas lightness secured.

A further object is to furnish a light, strong, compact, and shapelydevice which, when attached to the front axle and forward part of thevehicle, will afford a means for the swing ing movement of the frontaxle and wheels, and also provide for an adjustment of worn parts totake up lost motion and thus prevent rattling of the same.

- With these objects in view my invention consists in certain featuresof construction and combinations of parts that will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, making a part of thisspeeification, Figure 1is a front elevation Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the bottom plate.

of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 5 is a detached top view of a clamping-platethat is located on the bottom surface of the axle, it being clipped tothe axle and its wooden stock. Figs. 6 and 7 are top and side views of abracket-guard plate which serves to hold the two circleplates of thefifth-wheel together and affords a means for taking up lost motion inthe wearing pivotcenter. l

D represents the central portion of a metallic vehicle'axle, of theusual form, on which the wooden cap-piece C is fitted to give form andfinish to the axle proper. On a flattened center portion of the cap 0the fifth-wheel is mounted, which consists of two circle or ring plates,G H, that are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The lower circle-plate, H, is provided with provided with an integraltransverse plate, A,

that offsets from the top surface of the same.

One edge of the plate A lies near the diametrical center of thecircle-plate G, and an int-egral reach-plate, A,is extended from thisedge rearwardly.

At the center of the circle-plate Ga depending boss is formed on thereach-plate A, which boss is perforated at R (see Fig. 3) for thereception of the true cylindrical pin P, that in effect becomes aking-bolt, on which the front axle and wheels may be laterally moved asa center of vibratory motion.

Upon the transverse plate A of the upper circle, G, a head-block, E, ismounted and secured by clip-plates e and bolts 6, which latter extendvertically through the ears 0 that are formed on the parallel edges ofthe plate A and also through holes in the ends ofthe clipplates that areplaced upon the lower half, F, of an elliptic plate spring, which ismounted upon the head-block E in the usual manner.

The head-block E is mortised near its center of length to receive atenon, 1), formed on the front end of the wooden reach S, beneath whichthe plate A is extended and secured by a screw-bolt, T, which penetratesvertically through the reach and plate.

Below the fifth-wheel plates G H abracketplate, I, is secured by thebolt T, which is inserted through the reach and its plate, as juststated, the nut of said bolt bearing against the lower surface of thebracket-plate, so as to bind the reach S, reach-plate A, andbracketplate I together, as shown-inFig. 2.

On the rear end of the braeket-plate I an offset bend is formed,whichproduces a shoulder, 0, that engages the inner surface of the adjacentcircle-plates G H loosely, the downward and rearward integral projectionof the bracket-plate at this point forming a lug 0,

which is adapted to support the two fifthwheel plates and allow thelower plate, H, to slide upon the top plate, G.

The bracket-plate I is further provided with a depending andforwardly-extended portion, I, which projects its end I below theintegral pin P, as shown in Fig. 2, this part I being perforated andscrew tapped to receive a threaded set-bolt, k, on which ajam-nut, L, isplaced to secure the adjustment of the set-bolt at any desired point,this bolt being made to bear on the ear 1), so as to properly elevatethe lower circle-plate, H, and thus take up lost motion between the twocircle-plates and also between the pin P and its receiving-socket holeIt.

It should be here explained that the reachplate A and the bracket-plateI are provided with the mating ears to 'w as 00, formed on their edges,said ears being perforated for the reception of the proper screw-boltsthat are adapted to hold these parts together firmly, so that thefunctions of the bracket-plate I, as previously explained, may beproperly carried into effect.

Below the central portion of the axle D a clamping-plate, N, is located,which serves as a keeper to receive the clip-bolts c 0, (see Fig. 1,)that embrace the wooden cap-piece C and axle D, their threaded lowerends, 0, entering the perforated ears 8 5, formed on the side edges ofthe clampingplate near each end, as shown in Fig. 5, the clipboltshaving suitable nuts placed on their lower ends,which bear against theclamping plate to secure the cap-piece G, axle D, and plate Ntogether,as shown in Fig. 1. The clamping-plate N is further provided with alateral projection, V, which is formed on its rear edge near the centerof length of said plate. This projection is rounded on its edge, and hasa depending pin, 0, formed on its lower side-that is, in verticalalignment with the upper cylindrical pin, P.

Upon the pin 0 a stay-brace, M, is swivelconnected by engagement of itsperforated flattened end M therewith, this end of the brace being heldin place by a nut or other suitable means. The stay-brace M isrearwardly and upwardly projected,of alength to permit its other end,7', to be secured against the lower surface of the reach-plate A by abolt, t, which is inserted downwardly through perforations made in thereach S, reach-plate A, and pad end of the diagonal stay-brace M, theseparts being clamped together firmly by the bolt and its nut, as shown inFig. 2.

It is apparent from the manner of construction of the vehicle-gearsherein described that the pins P and 0 will coact together and permit afree swinging motion of the front axle and the lower circle-plate, H,upon the top plate G, thus effecting a proper movement of the frontportion of the gears without requiring a perforation of the reach S,that would weaken it.

The provision of the bracket-plate I serves to hold the lowercircle-plate, H, in proper relative position with regard to the uppercircle-plate, G, and affords a simple and reliable means in its setboltK and jam-nut L to adjust these parts together,so as to take up wear andprevent a rattling motion between the bearing-surfaces.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In vehicle-gears, the combination, with an elongated reach-platehaving a transverse plate and a top eireleplate at its front end, thesaid reaclrplatc having a perforation therein, of the lowercircle-platehavingacentrally located integral pin, and a bracketplate secured to thereach and provided with lips which overlap the under surface of thelower circle-plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In vehicle gears, the combination, with atop circle-plate having anintegral reachplate projecting from it, and a lower circleplate providedwith a pin having swivel engagement with a perforation made in theintegral reach-plate near the radial center of the top circle-plate, ofa bracket'plate secured to the reach-plate by suitable means, andadapted to retain the lower and upper circle plates in place and take upwear, substantially as set forth.

3. In vehicle gears, the combination, with a spring, a head-block, areach, a top circleplate, and a reach-plate integral with this topcircle-plate, of a lower circle-plate, a bracketplate, a set-boltsecured in this bracket-plate, an axle, a wooden axle stock,clan1ping-plate bolts to hold the axle-stock, axle, and clamping-platetogether, a depending pin formed on the clamping-plate, and a diagonalbrace that engages this pin and is attached to the reachplate and reach,substantially as set forth.

4. In vehicle-gears, the combination, with the reach-plate perforated toreceive a cylindrical pin, and a lower circle-plate with its transverseaxleplate that is provided with a cylindrical pin, of a bracket-platesecured to the lower side of the reach-plate and having alug which isadapted to loosely secure the lower circle-plate in position,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed thisspccification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HENRY O. S\VAN.

Witnesses:

F. O. STEWART, S. R. MOODY.

ICC

